Rooster hen ratio

[camocatfish54]

Does anyone have 2 hens per rooster? Or am i the only one?

 

[camocatfish54]

Anyone?

 

[phalenbeck]

Had 10-12 hens per roo. Had because I just ate the roo as he was overmating, and just plain mean to some hens. 2 hens for 1 roo just seems like problems for the hens, mostly overmating.

 

[centrarchid]

I use roosters to make eggs hatch unless games then they can aid with rearing of young.

Free-range I can go as low as one to one especially if hen rearing chicks. Confined in breeding pens I can go one to one but they must be watched. For me highest ratio is about five to one owing to rooster fertility limitations. Roosters from production flocks tend to be more amorous and as a result harder on hens, therefore higher female to male ratio better and can push 10 hens per rooster.

 

[brandy75]

I have 10 hens and 2 roosters. The roosters are starting to be very territorial though and the one attacks the other one if he crows. I was wondering the same question about how many roosters to hens. I don't want them fighting.

 

[centrarchid]

See about making so they can split hens between them. I setup feeding stations in multiple locations and have even resorted to setting up different roosting locations. The feeding stations need to be near cover where flocks can hang out to avoid weather and sun when not feeding.

 

[lauranickerson]

I currently have 7 pullets, 10 roosters, and 7 more chicks in a brooder (which I bought from a lady off Craigslist, who in turn got them from a hatchery as "all pullets." Assuming they all are girls, would 14 hens and 2 roosters be an okay ratio? I have a black sex link rooster that's very pretty and the most docile out of them all, and a red sex link rooster that's an energetic little talker. Both very pretty and I'd like to hatch some chicks from both and get some crazy crosses going on.

Okay ratio?

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Before I sorted down my flock into breeding pens I had 2 roos for 8 girls. No real issues until they decided mating season was full swing. Had about 100% fertility with 2 at all times. Fertility may have dropped a bit, but seperated down to 1:3 ratio for the less dominate and 1:4 for the other. Still great fertilty. With the breeding set up I have now, all large breeds except 1 LH cross. its about 1:4 ratio in all pens and no issues with over mating as of yet and its been roughly a month. I have added 2 more roos and each have 4 hens. These are breeding projects.
1 roo is also short a hen since she went broody. This roo, my most dominate is also sharing a coop with 6-8 guineas, male and female (6 atm normally 8 have a couple broodies) and a pair of rouen ducks. Of which the drake, a young bird puts ALL other birds in place around his mate. 2 of my roos are prolly at least 4 years old though. Every flock will be different, as well as every breed and indavidual bird in the flock. If it works don't worry about change. If it doesn't find what works best for your birds.